MADISON - Local unemployment statistics for metro areas, major cities and counties in Wisconsin, released the day before Thanksgiving by the Department of Workforce Development, show Green and Lafayette counties among those where unemployment rates inched downward in October.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates for October and revisions for September showed county rates decreased or remained the same in 56 of Wisconsin 72 counties compared to rates in September. But the decreases were mostly small increments, less than a half percentage point, except in Menominee where the rate dropped 0.6 point. The October rates ranged from 3.0 percent in Pierce to 9.9 percent in Menominee.
Green County rate dropped to 3.8 percent in October compared to 3.9 percent in September and 4.8 percent a year ago.
Lafayette County dropped to 3.4 percent, compared to 3.5 percent in September and 4.5 percent a year ago.
Iowa County had 3.4 percent unemployment in October, 3.3 percent in September and 4.2 percent a year ago. Dane County dropped to 3.2 percent, from 3.3 percent in September and 4.1 percent a year ago. Rock County remained at 5.5 percent in October and September, down from 7.1 percent in October 2013.
Rates decreased in all 72 counties compared to October 2013 rates, by more than four full percentage points in Iron County and two full points in Forest, Lincoln, and Racine counties. Finally below double digits, Menominee, at 9.9 percent, came down from 10.5 percent in September and 12.2 percent in October 2013. The rates in Iron, at 8.0 percent, and Menominee are the highest in the state.
Madison and Janesville metropolitan statistical areas reflected their county rates. Janesville MSA was at 5.5 percent for October, the same as in September, and 1.36 percent lower than 7.1 percent in October 2013. Madison MSA was at 3.3 percent, down 0.1 point, from 3.4 percent in September and 0.9 point in October 2013.
The latest MSA rates ranged from 3.3 percent in metro Madison to 6.1 percent in metro Racine. Compared to September rates, preliminary October unemployment rates decreased in 10 metro areas and remained the same in Janesville and Racine. October rates decreased in all 12 metro areas with declines ranging from nearly a full percentage point in Madison to two points in Racine, compared to October 2013 rates.
In Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities, preliminary October rates either decreased or remained the same in 26 cities, compared to rates in September.
The City of Janesville is still battling 6 percent unemployment, sixth highest of the cities with rates topping out at 9.1 percent in Racine. Janesville's rate is down from 6.2 percent in September and 7.8 percent in October 2013. Racine is down from 10.5 percent in September and 12.2 percent a year ago.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the City of Madison's rate is second lowest in the state, at 3.2 percent, down from 3.4 percent in September. Madison was at 4.2 percent a year earlier. The lowest rate is in Caledonia at 2.7 percent. Caledonia was at 2.6 percent in September, and 3.2 percent in October 2013.
Fitchburg had a rate of 3.7 percent in October, 3.8 percent in September and 4.8 percent in October 2013.
Local unemployment numbers are not seasonally adjusted.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's October rate was 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent in September and down from 5.9 percent in October 2013. The U.S. rate for October was 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent in September and down from 7.0 percent in October 2013.
Last week's release of BLS estimates showed Wisconsin's preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 5.4 percent, a new post-recession low in Wisconsin. Initial weekly unemployment insurance claims for the first 45 weeks of 2014 dropped to the lowest point since 2000, and the annual, average weekly UI claims are at their lowest levels since 2000, according to the DWD.
The DWD also reported the Department of Financial Institutions reported new business formations were up 5.9 percent during the ten months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Forbes magazine recently ranked Wisconsin first in the Midwest for projected growth in its "Best States for Business" rankings.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates for October and revisions for September showed county rates decreased or remained the same in 56 of Wisconsin 72 counties compared to rates in September. But the decreases were mostly small increments, less than a half percentage point, except in Menominee where the rate dropped 0.6 point. The October rates ranged from 3.0 percent in Pierce to 9.9 percent in Menominee.
Green County rate dropped to 3.8 percent in October compared to 3.9 percent in September and 4.8 percent a year ago.
Lafayette County dropped to 3.4 percent, compared to 3.5 percent in September and 4.5 percent a year ago.
Iowa County had 3.4 percent unemployment in October, 3.3 percent in September and 4.2 percent a year ago. Dane County dropped to 3.2 percent, from 3.3 percent in September and 4.1 percent a year ago. Rock County remained at 5.5 percent in October and September, down from 7.1 percent in October 2013.
Rates decreased in all 72 counties compared to October 2013 rates, by more than four full percentage points in Iron County and two full points in Forest, Lincoln, and Racine counties. Finally below double digits, Menominee, at 9.9 percent, came down from 10.5 percent in September and 12.2 percent in October 2013. The rates in Iron, at 8.0 percent, and Menominee are the highest in the state.
Madison and Janesville metropolitan statistical areas reflected their county rates. Janesville MSA was at 5.5 percent for October, the same as in September, and 1.36 percent lower than 7.1 percent in October 2013. Madison MSA was at 3.3 percent, down 0.1 point, from 3.4 percent in September and 0.9 point in October 2013.
The latest MSA rates ranged from 3.3 percent in metro Madison to 6.1 percent in metro Racine. Compared to September rates, preliminary October unemployment rates decreased in 10 metro areas and remained the same in Janesville and Racine. October rates decreased in all 12 metro areas with declines ranging from nearly a full percentage point in Madison to two points in Racine, compared to October 2013 rates.
In Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities, preliminary October rates either decreased or remained the same in 26 cities, compared to rates in September.
The City of Janesville is still battling 6 percent unemployment, sixth highest of the cities with rates topping out at 9.1 percent in Racine. Janesville's rate is down from 6.2 percent in September and 7.8 percent in October 2013. Racine is down from 10.5 percent in September and 12.2 percent a year ago.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the City of Madison's rate is second lowest in the state, at 3.2 percent, down from 3.4 percent in September. Madison was at 4.2 percent a year earlier. The lowest rate is in Caledonia at 2.7 percent. Caledonia was at 2.6 percent in September, and 3.2 percent in October 2013.
Fitchburg had a rate of 3.7 percent in October, 3.8 percent in September and 4.8 percent in October 2013.
Local unemployment numbers are not seasonally adjusted.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's October rate was 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent in September and down from 5.9 percent in October 2013. The U.S. rate for October was 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent in September and down from 7.0 percent in October 2013.
Last week's release of BLS estimates showed Wisconsin's preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 5.4 percent, a new post-recession low in Wisconsin. Initial weekly unemployment insurance claims for the first 45 weeks of 2014 dropped to the lowest point since 2000, and the annual, average weekly UI claims are at their lowest levels since 2000, according to the DWD.
The DWD also reported the Department of Financial Institutions reported new business formations were up 5.9 percent during the ten months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Forbes magazine recently ranked Wisconsin first in the Midwest for projected growth in its "Best States for Business" rankings.